Automatic gas lighter and extinguisher.



G. mason. AUTOMATIG GAS LIGHTER AND EXTINGUISHEB.

APPLIOATI'ON FILED JUNE 25, 1910.

Patented Nov. 8, 1910 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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LG. ROBSON.

AUTOMATIC GAS LIGHTER AND EXTINGUISHER.

APPLICATION IILED JUNE 26, 1910.

Patented Nov. 8, 1910.

3 SHBETS BHEET 2.

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G. ROBSON. AUTOMATIC GAS LIGHTER AND EXTINGUISHER.

APPLIOATION TILED JUNE 26, 1910. v

Patented Nov.8, 1910.

3 SEBETHHEET 3.

THE mamas PETERS co., wAsHmmou, n c.

in STATES ra'rnr ori E.

GEORGE ROBSON, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

AUTOMATIC GAS LIGHTER AND EXTINGUISHER.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE RoBsoN, a

Subject of the King of Great Britain and in any particular position in which the apparatus is fixed or used; for instance, the lighting and extinguishing pressures may be the same, or the latter may be lower than the former and at the end of a cycle of operations the apparatus may be in or out of gear as preferred.

The invention consists in a gas lighter or extinguisher in which a motor actuated gas valve is actuated by means of a diaphragm which is caused to expand and thereby directly release the motor, the proper operation of the apparatus being controlled by two adjustable weights.

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in'section of one form of apparatus constructed in accordancewith the invention and actuated by a rise of pressure in the mains. Figs. 2 and 3 are transverse sections on the lines AA and 13-13 respectively of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. at is a plan view of the principal portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. Fig.

0 is a detached view of a portion of the mechanism shown in the preceding figures.

Fig. 6 is a modified detail. Figs. 7 to 12 show side and front elevations of modified forms of cams.

' In carrying the invention into efi ect with reference to Figs. 1 to 5, a is a removable casing inclosing the operating mechanism which is preferably driven by a spring within the barrel Z). A spur wheel 0 upon the barrel engages with and drives a pinion cl upon the shaft 6 on the end of which shaft is mounted a disk 7 fitted with two single stepped cams f. The shaft 6 is also fitted Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 25, 1910.

Patented Nov. 8, 1910. Serial No. 568,869.

with a spur'wheel g which engages with and drives a pinion h on the shaft Z1, this shaft carrying a worm wheel Z the teeth of which are in mesh with the threads of a worm in a shaft m. This shaft is approximately vertical, its lower end rests in a footstep a, while its upper end is fitted with the usual escapement and a pin 0 adapted to engage at the proper time with a stop 79 carried upon a horizontal lever q fulcrumed on the frame at r. The operating mechanism thus far described is preferably carried upon a flanged plate 8 in any suitable way, the casing a fitting upon the flange of this plate. The gas supply pipe t is fixed to, or formed integrally with the plate 8 and the gas under the control of the gas cook it passes away to the burners by the pipe 1).

The gas before it reaches the cook a, is caused to act upon a diaphragm or moving part to of an expansible chamber g by passing through an opening a, which is in communication with the interior of the expansible chamber. The diaphragm w is adapted under the pressure of gas to move outward to actuate a system of weighted bell crank levers l, 2 and 8 fulcrumed upon the pin w and to move inward to follow up a reduction of pressure by means of the said weighted levers. The levers 1, 2 which may be partly in the form of plates are fitted with adjustable weights 4, 5, and the lever 1 has one arm or member constantly in engagement with the diaphragm while the other lever 2 has a short arm adapted to engage by overlapping at 6 with a similar arm upon the first lever so that although the lever 2 is free normally'to press upon the arm of lever 1 and therefore upon the diaphragm, it is adapted to be moved away therefrom to lessen the weights on the diaphragm by means of the cam disk which engages with the third arm or lever 3, integral wit-h or connected to the lever 2.

The disk carrying the cams f is mounted upon the spindle e of the clockwork mechanism which is used to actuate the gas cook, a, provided with the usual port, and the cam is preferably provided with a pin 7 adapted to directly engage a pin 8 011 the end of the gas cook. The arm of the weighted lever 1 which is constantly in engagement with the expansible chamber is provided with a pawl as hereinafter described for raising the looking lever g which releases the clockwork mechanism, which lever as before described carries a stop p adapted to out of the path of the pin the upper end of the worm shaft m controlling the clockwork mechanism. 7

The locking lever g is preferably arranged horizontally and carries at its free end a tooth 13 adapted to drop into a notch in the edge of a disk 1 1 on the rotating shaft is of the clockwork mechanism, the relation of this notch to the stop p upon the locking lever above referred to being such, that when the tooth 13 is in the notch the stop 2 is in the path of the corresponding pin 0 upon the worm shaft m and will therefore arrest the latter in its rotation and lock the clockwork mechanism, but when the tooth 13 is upon the edge or periphery of the disk 14 the stop p will be moved out of the path of the pin 0.

For convenience in properly adjusting the mechanism when fixing the various apparatus in position a push button 15 mounted on a spring arm 16 is provided so that the lever 1 may be actuated.

It is to be understood that several cams may be arranged on one cam disk, if desired, accordingto the spindle upon which the disk is mounted and that instead of the cam being formed with either one step or two as above described, it may be made adjustable, so that by slight adjustment it may be used under either of the conditions hereinbefore referred to, and the lower locking pin or the projection it engages with may be similarly adapted. It will be also understood that the weights or the leverage at which they act can be varied or be made adjustable to suit the various pressures at which the apparatus is to act and also to suit the variations in pressures due to local conditions.

The weights 4: and 5 are adjustably carried upon horizontal screwed rods 19 mounted u on the bell crank levers 1 and 2 hereinbefbre described, and the lever 1 carries a pawl 20 formed on one arm 21 of a bell crank lever 22 fulcrumed at 23 in lugs 24 mounted on the lever 1. The pawl 20, when the diaphragm is expanded, rises into engagement with a pin 25 projecting from the locking lever 9 thereby raising the lever to gether with its tooth 13 and stop p from the disk 14: and out of the pathof pin 0 respectively thus releasing the clockwork. To prevent the pawl 20 taking up a position under the pin 25 when it is about to fall and stop the clockwork, a lever 26 fulcruined upon the frame at 27 is so arranged that its free end is interposed between the pawl and pin at the right moment, the pawl being thrust backward out of the way. This is accomplished by means of a pin 28 projecting from the disk 14: just in advance of the notch therein (see Fig. 5) the pin engaging with ya shoulder 29 projecting from one side of and lifting the free end of the lever 26 from be moved into or 1 its rest position upon the support 32 in such 0 mounted upon a Way that a splayed portion 30 thereon pushes back the pawl 20 just as the tooth is about to fall. In this way the tooth 13 on the lever g is free to drop into its notch in the disk 14. After the pawl has been thrust back it may be moved inward again at the proper time by the weight of its arm 22, the distance being limited by the pin 31 coming into contact with the arm of the lever 1.

The cycle of operations is as follows Assuming that the gas burners are all extinguished and the normal daytime pressure prevails in the mains, the pressure is raised to an abnormal degree when it is desired to light the lamps. The diaphragm expands against the action of the two weighted levers 1, 2 and raises the pawl 20 to a position a little higher than that indicated in dotted lines to lift the locking lever g and release the clockwork the shaft 6 of which carries the cam and operates the gas cook so that it may pass gas to the burners as hereinbefore described. During this movement the action of one weight upon the dia phragm is removed by means of the cam f. In order to permit the tooth 13 to drop at the proper time into the notch in disk 14 to allow the pin 0 thereby stop the mechanism, the pawl 20 is removed laterally from the path of the pin 25 by the action of lever 26 which is raised just as the notch on the disk 14 is coming around into position so that the pawl 20 is thrust backward and there will be nothing to prevent the tooth 13 dropping into its notch. 1 When the pawl moves inwardly again it will come to rest not beneath the pin" 25 but against the end of it. midnight arrives, the pressure in the mains is reduced as usual. The action of the weight 4: upon the diaphragm causes it to contract and lowers the pawl 20 till it assumes the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1, or even that in full lines, the lights remaining unaffected. When it is necessary to extinguish the lights, the pressure in the gas main is again raised to overcome the pressure of the one weight and raise the pawl 20 to release the clockwork and actuate the'gas cock to extinguish the lights both weights finally returning to duty. It will be understood that the reduction of pressure at midnight may be only just suflicient to bring the pawl 20 under the pin 25 or it may be any degree lower than this, adjustment of the weights 4 and 5 assisting this variation.

Referring now .to Fig. 6, the bell crank lever'22 is shown detached in this figure, and fitted with a modified form of pawl. Inasmuch as the pawl moves along a curved path it is preferable to form it with a wedge foot. Moreover it is preferable to round to engage the stop 9 and When off the corners of the pin 25 as shown. For the purpose of finely adjusting the position of the pawl, the pin 31 is as shown replaced by a screw 31 having the eccentric-shaped head shown, the eccentric head working in conjunction with the lever 1 to adjust the pawl.

As hereinbefore described, the extinguishing pressure is relatively lower than the lighting pressure. This however need not necessarily be so; for instance, by using the form of cam disk illustrated in Figs. 7, 8, both pressures will be the same.

In the modifications above described, it will have been seen that at the end of the cycle of operations the pawl 20 remains in such a position that if from any cause the pressure in the mains is unduly increased,

the mechanism will be started when not desired by the expansion of the diaphragm, although a certain amount of fluctuation is permissible owing to the pawl 20 being brought down as shown in Fig. 1 lower than it really need, and that this premature starting will be very undesirable as disorganizing the cycle. It often occurs in practice owing to the use of gas cooking stoves that the pressure in the gas mains is considerably increased during the day for cooking purposes and a modified form of cams will be now described, so designed that at the conclusion of a cycle of operations the pawl 20 will not be left in engagement, but will be free to rise with the increase of pressure due to coo-king operations without actuating the gas lighter.

By the action of the cam Fig. l, the over-lapping portions at 6 of the two levers 1 and 2 are separated for such av distance that the tail of the lever 2 is beyond the total expansion limit of the diaphragm, so that when extinguishing the diaphragm expands against only one of the weights. A modified form of cam is however shown in Figs. 9 and 10 which comprises a single continuous ridge 36 of such a height that while the loose weight will be prevented from acting on the diaphragm, its tail end at 6 will be still within the range of expansion of the diaphragm. The action of the apparatus with such a cam will be as follows. For lighting, the diaphragm is fully exoanded and in its outward movement picks up the weights one after the other, the mechanism is released and the gas valve turned on. At midnight the usual reduction of pressure is effected. the pawl 20 is lowered to its engaging position by the receding diaphragm under the action of one weight. For extinguishing, the pressure is raised before and again releases the mechanism, at the conclusion of which however the diaphragm is at first partly collapsed under the action of two weights, the loose weight is however prevented from following up the diaphragm as it recedes, by the action of the ridge 36 and the diaphragm being unable to fully collapse by the remaining weight the pawl 20 is prevented from sinking down to engaging point but comes to rest'against the end of the pin 25. Thus should the pressure he raised between the extinguishing time and the next lighting up time the apparatus will not be actuated. When it is time for the next lighting up, the pressure is reduced till the pawl 20 sinks to engaging position.

Referring to Figs. 11 and 12 a further modified form of cam is here shown which will have the same result. The cam disk 7 is ridged at 36, the ridge being formed with two high steps 37 about double the height of the ridge 36. The steps 37 serve the same purpose as the steps 7" Fig. 1 while the ridge 36 prevents the engagement of the pawl 20.

In the foregoing description four forms of cam disk have been described, viz: a plain disk, a disk with two steps, a disk with a continuous ridge and one having a ridge formed with two high steps, so that according to the local conditions obtaining in any particular locality or district, the required cam to meet these conditions may be used. For instance, when using the cam shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the apparatus will be operated for lighting or extinguishing at the higher pressure and will engage at the lower pressure 2'. e. be operated at 35 tenths pressure and engaged at 30 tenths. By the cam shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the apparatus will operate in the same manner as with the cam in Figs. 7 and 8, but the pawl is left out of engagement. By the cam shown in Fig. 1, the apparatus lights at 35 tenths, engages at 20 tenths, extinguishes at 25 tenths and the pawl is left in engagement. By the cam in Figs. 11 and 12, the same results are achieved as by the cam in Fig. 1 the pawl being left out of engagement.

From the above it will be clear that the difference between the operating pressure and the engaging pressure is in each case 5 tenths pressure and this may be called therange. In some cases it is desirable that this range should be increased. To this end, a weight 35 indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 5, is mounted upon the arm .7, so that the diaphragm must be expanded against this weight, but the latter will not act to cause the collapse of the diaphragm since the arm 9 and its weight will be supported by the disk 14. For instance in a case in which the diaphragm is collapsed by the weight of the parts and the two adjustable weights say a total of 35 tenths, the mechanism will operate at 40 tenths, and will engage at By taking however a weight of 5 tenths off the load acting on the diaphragm and placing it on the arm 9 the engaging pressure will be 5 tenths lower 2'. e. 30 tenths but the operating each lever, and means the same lever, an adjustable weight on each tor, an expansible diaphragm,

guisher comprising in guisher comprising in combination a gas v by the pair of weighted levers, a motor releasing pawl on one of the levers to operate the locking means, and cam means to remove the influence of one weight from ed the diaphragm for the purpose described.

6. An automatic gas lighter and extinguisher comprising in combination a gas valve, a motor therefor, means for locking the motor, a pair of separable levers, an adjustable weight on each lever, an expansible diaphragm in contact with one lever, a motor releasing pawl on the same lever, to operate the locking means whereby the motor will be released and the gas valve actuated at a definite pressure behind the diaphragm, and means for throwing the releasing pawl out of operative position with the locking means to be ready for a subsequent operation, at any pressure below releasing pressure.

7 An automatic gas lighter and extinguisher comprising in combination a gas valve, a motor therefor, means for locking the motor, a pair of separable levers, an adjustable weight on each lever, a diaphragm adapted to expand under gas pressure, in contact with one lever, a motor releasing pawl on the same lever, means including a cam cooperating with the levers whereby lighting may be effected at a pressure higher than that for extinguishing and means for setting the releasing pawl to cause it to subsequently engage the locking means any pressure below the respective operating pressures.

8. An automatic gas lighter and extinguisher comprising in combination a gas valve, a motor therefor, means for locking the motor, a double armed weighted lever, a diaphragm expansible under gas pressure in contact with one arm of the lever, a motor releasing pawl on another arm of the lever, a second weighted lever adapted to overlap and press upon a part of the first lever, and means whereby when pressure is applied behind the diaphragm the combined pressure of the weighted levers will be overcome and the locking means will be released and lighting will be at once efiected, and when extinguishing is to be effected the diaphragm will have to expand a ainst the pressure of one weighted lever onl 9. An automatic gas lighter and extinguisher comprising in combination a gas valve, a motor therefor, means for locking the motor, a double armed weighted lever, a diaphragm expansible under gas pressure in contact with one arm of the lever, a motor releasing pawl on another arm of the lever, a second weighted lever adapted to overlap and press upon a part of the first lever, and cam means in contact with the second weighted lever for freeing the first weighted lever of the pressure thereon due to the second weighted lever and release the locking means for the purpose described.

10. An automatic gas lighter and extinpressure remains the same i. 6. 4:0 tenths, and the range is increased to 10 tenths. Instead of using the weight 35 to increase the range the same effect will be gained by using the cam shown in Figs. 9 and 10. When this cam is used, there is only one weight acting on the diaphragm to effect its collapse. Therefore by manipulating the weights 4; and 5 so as to preserve a constant total which represents the operating pressure, the engaging pressure -may be of any desired value below the operating pressure.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An automatic gas lighter and extinguisher comprising a gas valve, a motor for operating it, means for locking the molever mechanism operated by the diaphragm, motor releasing means on the lever mechanism and two adjustable weights on said mechanism, whereby a rise of pressure in thegas main operates the diaphragm and releases the motor and actuates the gas valve.

2. An automatic gas lighter and extincombination, a gas valve, a motor for actuating it, means for locking the motor, an expansible diaphragm, a pair of separable levers, a motor releasing pawl on one lever, and an adjustable weight on each lever, whereby a rise of pressure in the mains will operate the diaphragm and pawl, will release the locking means and start the motor and turn the valve.

3. An automatic gas lighter and extinguisher comprising in combination a gas valve, a motor for actuating it, means for locking the motor, an expansible diaphragm, a pair of separable levers, a motor releasing pawl on one lever, an adjustable weight on for throwing the pawl out of operative position preceding the period the locking means is to again lock the motor.

4. An automatic gas lighter and extinvalve, a motor for actuating it, means for locking the motor, a pair of separable levers, an expansible diaphragm in contact with one of the levers, a motor releasing pawl on lever, and means including a cam cooperating with the levers whereby lighting is effected at a pressure relatively higher than the extinguishing pressure, the gas valve being operated directly by a rise of pressure in the main.

5. An automatic gas lighter and extinguisher comprising in combination a gas valve, a motor for actuating it, means for locking the motor, a pair of separable levers, an adjustable weight on each lever, an

expansible diaphragm normally influenced guisher comprising in combination a gas valve, a clockwork motor for actuating it, an expansible diaphragm, lever mechanism between the diaphragm and motor a pawl on the lever mechanism, a pivoted toothed arm on the motor to lock the same and adapted to be lifted by the pawl to release the motor and a notched disk with which the toothed arm engages so that when the motor is released the tooth'ed end of the arm will ride on the rotating periphery of the notched disk, so that the motor once started must complete its stroke.

11. An automatic gas lighter and extinguisher comprising in combination a gas valve, a clockwork motor therefor, an expansible diaphragm, two weighted levers between the diaphragm and motor, one lever being in contact with the diaphragm, a releasing pawl on the same lever, a pivoted toothed locking arm on the motor adapted to be lifted by the releasing pawl to release the motor and a notched disk with which the toothed arm engages so that when the motor is released the toothed end of the locking arm will ride on the rotating periphery of the notched disk, so that the motor once started must complete its stroke.

12. An automatic gas lighter and extinguisher comprising in combination a gas valve, a clockwork motor therefor, an expansible diaphragm, two weighted levers between the diaphragm and motor, one lever being in contact with the diaphragm, a releasing pawl on the same lever, a pivoted locking arm on the motor adapted to be lifted by the releasing pawl, a projection on the side of the locking arm, an escapement shaft, and a pin at one end thereof normally in engagement with the projection on the locking arm, whereby when the latter is disengaged from the former the motor is released.

13. An automatic gas lighter and extinguisher comprising in combination a gas valve, a clockwork motor therefor, an expansible diaphragm, two weighted levers between the diaphragm and motor, one lever being in contact with the diaphragm, a releasing pawl on the same lever, a pivoted locking arm on the motor, adapted to be lifted by the releasing pawl when actuated by an expansion of the diaphragm and means for insuring that the pawl shall not prevent the released clockwork stopping.

' 1 An automatic gas lighter and extinguisher comprising in combination a gas valve, a clockwork motor therefor, an expansible diaphragm, two weighted levers belocking arm as it falls to lock the clockwork at the completion of a stroke.

15. An automatic gas lighter and extinguisher comprising in combination a gas valve, a clockwork motor therefor, an expansible diaphragm, two weighted levers between the diaphragm and motor, one lever being in contact with the diaphragm, a releasing pawl on the same lever, a toothed motor locking arm adapted to be actuated by the releasing pawl, a notched disk engaging the tooth on the arm, a second arm alongside the locking arm, a pin on the disk for raising the second arm so that it is interposed between the releasing pawl and the locking arm just as the latter is falling into locking engagement with the notched disk for the purpose described.

16. An automatic gas lighter and extinguisher comprising in combination a gas valve, a clockwork motor for driving it, a diaphragm expansible under gas pressure, a main weighted lever in contact with the diaphragm, an extension on the lever, a releasing pawl lever pivoted on the extension, and rigid therewith on an expansion stroke of the diaphragm, but movable relatively thereto on a contraction stroke of the diaphragm and motor locking means adapted to be actuated by the pawl.

17 An automatic gas lighter and extinguisher comprising in combination, 'a gas valve, a clockwork motor for driving it, a cam disk on the gas valve spindle, a diaphragm expansible under gas pressure, a main weighted lever in contact with the diaphragm an auxiliary weighted lever having one part thereof in contact with the cam disk and another part overlapping and normally pressing upon a part of the main lever, a releasing pawl on the latter, a motor locking means actuated by the releasing pawl and means for insuring the stoppage of the motor at the proper time.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE ROBSON.

Witnesses:

H. E. D01), 13. H. MATTHEWS. 

